Executive Summary
This two-page poster provides an overview of the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) value chain and its associated technologies. CO₂ can be captured from industrial point sources or directly from the air. Then, it can be used in industrial processes or permanently stored to prevent its release into the atmosphere. The poster compares three capture technology families and their levels of maturity: solvent-based absorption; adsorption with solid sorbents; and membranes. It also summarizes the latest policy developments in Germany and provides three policy recommendations to enable scaling up of CCUS technology. Lastly, the poster highlights emerging carbon capture innovations across the TfNZ ecosystem.
Our policy recommendations to enable CCUS scale-up:
Polluters Pay, Not Taxpayers: Make corporates bear CCS costs via carbon pricing, AMCs, liability rules, and guarantees that mobilize private finance.
Innovate to Cut Carbon Capture Costs: Scale R&D and grants alongside carbon pricing to reduce capture costs and energy demand and strengthen the business case.
Prioritize Carbon Use Over Storage: Incentivize syngas and synthetic fuels to utilize captured CO₂, keeping geological storage as a last resort where reuse is not viable.
